Untimely errors cost Maryland football in loss to No. 3 Michigan
The Terps had multiple chances to win the game but came up short.
Despite all the mistakes, missed opportunities and odds stacked against it, Maryland football needed 99 yards to redefine its season. It took two plays to erase the Terps’ upset bid and seal Saturday’s result — a 31-24 loss to No. 3 Michigan.
Quarterback Taulia Tagovailoa dropped back, looking to cement his legacy with a heroic game-winning drive in his final home game. Instead, facing pressure, he hurriedly panned to his right and dispensed of the ball. The pass fell 10 yards short of Tagovailoa’s target, and after a brief meeting with his colleagues, the referee did exactly what the Terps sideline was begging him not to: throw a flag.
The intentional grounding penalty granted Michigan a safety — two points, and more importantly, possession with the ability to run out the clock.
Mistakes were ultimately what derailed a promising performance from head coach Mike Locksley’s team, which will end yet another season still searching for its first win against a ranked conference opponent since joining the Big Ten.
On the prior drive, Tagovailoa was sacked before throwing an interception on third down. With another chance to take a lead in the third quarter, he stared down Michigan defensive back Mike Sainristil and fired the ball right into his hands for an interception. Tagovailoa was also responsible for a first-quarter fumble that was scooped up by Derrick Moore for a Wolverines touchdown.
These mistakes overshadowed the moments where it seemed as if an elusive win against the conference’s two-time reigning champion would come to fruition. When the Terps put themselves in holes, they continually dug themselves out.
After the Wolverines’ first touchdown drive, the Terps lined up for a punt — one that was blocked and kicked out of the back of the end zone for a safety. When Michigan’s next drive ended, it was 23-3 in the blink of an eye after a second touchdown from running back Blake Corum.
But the end of the half saw a momentum shift. Maryland marched down the field on a 14-play touchdown drive, with backup quarterback Billy Edwards Jr. thrusting his way over the plane for a clutch score. Edwards, who only fielded snaps in goal-to-go scenarios, finished with a peculiar stat line of four rushes for just three yards but, most notably, three touchdowns. He was the first Maryland quarterback to rush for three touchdowns in a game since C.J. Brown in 2014.
With Michigan threatening to erase the Terps’ momentum, Maryland’s defense also stood tall. The Wolverines were set up within Maryland’s 10-yard line to end the first half, but linebacker Jaishawn Barham recorded his first career interception. Then came another defensive stand, and Maryland had a chance to take the lead against the two-time reigning conference champions.
That was when Tagovailoa’s first interception arrived. Michigan then scored a touchdown on the ensuing drive. It looked like the Maryland many have become accustomed to seeing against teams of Michigan’s caliber. It was the Tagovailoa whose mistakes have cost his team dearly in these games.
He bounced back with some impressive throws, including a 34-yard dot to Kaden Prather on the left sideline, which set up Edwards’ hat trick.
But ultimately, Tagovailoa and the Terps couldn’t get themselves over the hump. Their 24 points scored were the most Michigan has allowed this season, but it was not quite enough for the elusive victory the program has been searching for.
As Michigan sat near midfield and took a team picture to commemorate the program’s 1000th all-time win, Maryland dejectedly moped back into its locker room. Another Terps season passed without a marquee victory, as the playoff contenders of the Big Ten kept marching on.
Three things to know
1. Edwards played his role to perfection. Billy Edwards Jr. only saw the field for four plays on Saturday, but three resulted in touchdowns. Only handling the ball for quarterback sneaks, Maryland’s short-yardage package succeeded against a stout defensive front.
2. Maryland’s defense played lights-out. Although Michigan had spurts of offensive success, one of the nation’s elite offenses was held in check by its standards. After the first quarter, Michigan — which has averaged 42 points per game in conference play — scored just 13 points.
3. Another season without a signature win. Maryland will head to a third straight bowl game and has a chance to earn its seventh win of the season next week at Rutgers. But yet again, the Terps were unable to finish the job against Michigan, Ohio State or Penn State, despite competitive matchups with the former two.
from Testudo Times - All Posts https://ift.tt/VQJOrtA
0 Response to "Untimely errors cost Maryland football in loss to No. 3 Michigan"
Post a Comment